Process of treating clay, kaolin, and ceramic masses.



wood, and also humic acid separated from rinrrnn sra'rns arana enrich.

GUSTAV KEPPELER, O13 DARMSTADT, AND ALBERT SPANGENBERG, OF IVIEli-ZIG-ON- THE-SAAB, GERMANY; SAID SPANGENBERG ASSIGNOR TO SAID KEPPELER.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed July 27, 1907.

Patented Jan. 2,1912 Serial No. 385,882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GUsTAv KEPPELER, doctor of philosophy, lecturer, and resident of Darmstadt, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse, German Empire, (whose post-oflice address is Stiftstrasse No. 25,) and ALBERT SPAN- enNBnRe, chemist, engineer, and resident of Merzig-on-the-Saar, German Empire, (whose post-oflice address is Losheimerstrasse No. 7 have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes of 'lreating Clay, Kaolin, and Ceramic Masses, of which the following is a specification.

It is known-that ifor many purposes the plasticity and binding power of clay is insufficient. It is therefore necessary to impart these properties to the clay artificially. According to the present invention these properties may be imparted to the clay or ceramic mass by adding to it humic acids or substances containing humus. For this purpose all kinds of humic acid may be used. Casseler braun, brown coal, peat, rotten any'material in any manner. Since however the humic acid, no matter in what form it may be present, is not of itself soluble in Water, it is necessary thoroughly to mix mechanically the clay or ceramic mass with the hun'ms substance'and to store it damp. Thdeiietatdepends on the duration of the, storaio n and the proportion of added matter.

It has been found, that a little amount of humus substance, for instance not exceeding 5 per cent, is generally sui'licient.

When We speak in our claims of humic acid, we intend to refer to those substances which may be extracted from humus, and bodies containing it, by means of alkali.

Now what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following:

1. The process of increasing the plasticity and binding power ofrlay, kaolin and ceramic masses, which process consists in intimately mixing the mass with a substance containing humic acid and storing it substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The process of increasing the plasticity and binding power of clay, kaolin and ceramic masses, which process consists in intimately mixing the mass with a proportion not exceeding 5 per cent. of a. substance containing humus and storing it substantially as and for the pur iose described.

In testimony, that we claim the foregoing as our invention, we have signed our names in presence of two witnesses, this tenth day of July 1907.

GUSTAV KEPPELER. ALBERT SPANGENBERG. lVitnesses:

EVA SATTLER, HERMANN Wins. 

